Latching structure for cover and transfer tool

ABSTRACT

A transfer tool has a transfer tool main body including a case and a transfer head for applying tape. It also may include a cover housing a rotating shaft configured to engage the case and enable the cover to rotate about the rotating shaft such that the transfer head is exposed when the cover is in an open position and the transfer head is covered by the cover in a closed position. The transfer tool also may includes a latching structure for latching the cover and the transfer tool main body. The latching structure may be located proximate to the rotating shaft and may include complementary concave and convex portions housed on the transfer tool main body and the cover. The cover may be latched to the transfer tool main body in the open, closed and other predetermined positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a latching structure for latching acover attached to a supporting body at a predetermined position.

2. Description of the Related Art

There have conventionally been suggested structures for latching coverattached to supporting body in a rotating manner at predeterminedpositions.

For instance, taking a transfer tool as an example, there is disclosed acase as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-54190 in whicha cover is supported in a rotating manner between an open position inwhich a transfer head is exposed when the transfer tool is in use and aclosed position in which the transfer head is covered when the transfertool is not in use.

However, it is necessary to provide a protrusion at a position of thetransfer tool main body proximate of the transfer head in order to latchthe cover at the predetermined position or to provide another particularstructure for accurately latching the cover to the transfer tool mainbody. Accordingly, the structure of the transfer tool main body or thecover will become complicated which consequently results in increasedmanufacturing costs of the transfer tool itself.

Such problems are not limited to transfer tools only but similarproblems may arise in structures in which a cover is attached to asupporting body in a rotating manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of such inconveniences, andit provides a latching structure of simplified structure but capable ofcertainly latching the cover and a transfer tool employing the latchingstructure for cover.

For achieving the object, the present invention has devised thefollowing means. More particularly, the latching structure for a coveraccording to the present invention is arranged in that it includes asupporting body and a cover attached to the supporting body in arotating manner, the latching structure for latching the cover at apredetermined position, wherein latching means through which the coveris latched to the supporting body is provided proximate of a rotatingshaft around which the cover rotates or at the rotating shaft itself.

With such configuration, by providing the latching means at the rotatingshaft itself at which the supporting body at least contacts the cover inorder to rotatably attach both, or proximate thereof, it will bepossible to effectively avoid the necessity of providing a particularmeans for maintaining the position of the cover at different spots ofthe cover and the supporting body. With such configuration,specifications for the supporting body and the cover other than that ofthe location of the rotating shaft will not be limited, and theflexibility of design for arranging the cover and the supporting bodycan be suitably improved.

For certainly positioning the cover while stabilizing operations of therotating shaft, the latching means is desirably comprised of a concaveportion provided at one of the supporting body or the cover proximate ofthe rotating shaft and a convex portion provided at the other onethereof that fits into the concave portion at the predeterminedposition.

For determining a plurality of positions for latching the cover througha simple structure, it is desirable to dispose a plurality of concaveportions concentrically around the rotating shaft when seen in a planview.

For stably maintaining the position at which the cover is latched, it isdesirable to provide a plurality of the convex portions, wherein theplurality of convex portions are arranged to respectively fit into theplurality of concave portions.

On the other hand, when the latching means is provided at the rotatingshaft itself and the supporting body and the cover are positionedthrough the rotating portion only, it is preferable that the latchingmeans is comprised of a inclined shaft provided at one of the supportingbody and the cover and extending to deflect towards a predetermineddirection when seen in a plan view and an elongated hole provided at theother one thereof to accommodate the inclined shaft therein, and thatthe structure is arranged in that it latches the cover with respect tothe supporting body at a predetermined position at which a inclineddirection of the inclined shaft and a longitudinal direction of theelongated hole coincide.

For suitably latching the cover, the supporting body and the cover shallbe made of resin so that bending, which is a characteristic of resinmaterials, can be effectively utilized for suitably latching thesupporting body and the cover, and also easily unlatching the same fromthe latched condition.

For suitably applying the above-described cover latching structure to atransfer tool, it is desirable that the supporting body is comprised bythe transfer tool main body, with the cover being attached to thetransfer tool main body so that it may cover a transfer head provided atthe transfer tool main body, and that the latching means is arranged toassume an open position at which the transfer head is exposed from thecover and a closed position at which the transfer head is covered.

According to the present invention, by providing the latching means atthe rotating shaft itself at which the supporting body at least contactsthe cover in order to rotatably attach both, or proximate thereof, itwill be possible to effectively avoid the necessity of providing aparticular means for maintaining the position of the cover at differentspots of the cover and the supporting body. With such configuration,specifications for the supporting body and the cover other than that ofthe location of the rotating shaft will not be limited and theflexibility of design for arranging the cover and the supporting bodycan be suitably improved, and the structure of the supporting body andthe cover can be simplified so as to achieve reductions in manufacturingcosts.

Particularly, when employing the cover latching structure according tothe present invention to a transfer tool, it is possible to provide atransfer tool that certainly latches the cover and that is of reducedmanufacturing costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external appearance related to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view related to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of operations related to the aboveembodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of operations related to the aboveembodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of operations related to a modifiedexample of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of operations related to a modifiedexample of the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of operations related to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of operations related to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view related to another modification of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be explained whilereferring to the drawings.

A transfer tool A employing the latching structure X comprising thecover latching structure according to the present embodiment is shown inFIGS. 1 to 4.

The transfer tool A is mainly comprised of a transfer tool main body 1corresponding a supporting body and a cover 2 attached to the transfertool main body 1 in a rotating manner.

Here, the transfer tool A employing the mounting structure X of thecover 2 according to the present embodiment includes the transfer toolmain body 1 and the cover 2 attached to the transfer tool main body 1 ina rotating manner and employs the cover latching structure X forlatching the cover 2 with respect to a predetermined position, and isarranged in that latching means Y for latching the cover 2 with respectto the transfer tool main body 1 is provided proximate of a rotatingshaft 21 to be explained later around which the cover 2 rotates.

The transfer tool A according to the present embodiment is furtherarranged in that the cover 2 is attached to the transfer tool main body1 such that a transfer head H to be explained later included in thetransfer tool main body 1 is covered, and in that the latching means Yis arranged to assume an open position O at which the transfer head H isexposed from the cover 2 and a closed position C at which the transferhead H is covered.

Detailed structures of the transfer tool A will now be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer tool main body is comprised of acase 3 mainly made of resin and a transfer object holding portion Raccommodated inside of the case 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 3 comprises an outer shape of thetransfer tool 1 itself and assumes a halved structure mainly made of twoparts. An aperture is provided such that the transfer head H to beexplained later can be exposed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer object holding portion R is comprisedwith a unwinding spool SP1 that accommodates as the transfer object, forinstance, a transfer tape T adhered with glue Tb on one side thereof, awinding spool SP2, and a transfer head H including a transfer roller Hrfor pressing the transfer tape T onto an object of transfer such aspaper. Note that in the present embodiment, the unwinding spool SP1, thewinding spool SP2 and the transfer head H that comprise the transferobject holding portion R are of a specification in which they aredirectly attached within the case 3 respectively. In other words, thetransfer tool A cannot be used when the glue Tb is used up, that is, thetransfer tape T wound around the unwinding spool SP1 is used up, and isthus of so-called disposable type. However, the present invention is notlimited to such transfer tools A of disposable type, but it is possibleto employ a specification in which the transfer object holding portion Ris held as a separated inner case or the like such that the entiretransfer object holding portion R held within the inner case can beexchanged as a refill.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 2 is, for instance, an integrallymolded article made of rosin, and is comprised of a tip end portionhaving a shape capable of covering the above-described transfer head Hand a base end portion that is supported by the case in a rotatingmanner. As particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base end portion isarranged such that a rotating shaft 21 projects from both sides so as topinch the case 3 from outside. Note that while the cover is attachedsuch that the base end portion of the cover 2 pinches the case 3 fromboth sides by utilizing the elasticity of resin in the presentembodiment, it is also possible to employ a structure for the case 2 andthe cover 3 in which the rotating shaft 21 is made to project frominside to outside for attaching the same to the case 3 by similarlyutilizing the elasticity of resin.

Accordingly, the transfer tool A according to the present embodiment isprovided with latching means Y capable of suitably latching the cover 2with respect to the transfer tool main body 1 both in the open positionO and the closed position C as shown in FIG. 2 proximate of theabove-described rotating shaft 21.

A concrete structure of the latching means Y will now be described indetails on the basis of FIGS. 3( a), 3(b), 4(a) and 4(b).

The latching means Y is comprised of a concave portion 22 provided atthe cover 2 proximate of the rotating shaft 21 and a convex portionprovided on the case 3 side that may fit into the concave portion at apredetermined position.

In the present embodiment, there are provided two concaves 22 a, 22 bformed on the cover as the concave portion 22 wherein one concave 22 ais provided at the base end of the cover 2 just like a notch while theother concave 22 b is comprised as an aperture provided closer to thetip end than the rotating shaft 21.

On the other hand, a protrusion 32 a projecting in a cylindrical mannerto fit into the concaves 22 a, 22 b is provided as the convex portion32. Note that the structure of the concave portion 22 and the convexportion 32 is not limited to such a structure alone but it is possibleto provide the concave portion 22 on the case 3 side and the convexportion 32 on the cover 2 side. The concave portion is provided by aplurality of numbers concentrically around the rotating shaft 21 whenseen in a plan view, wherein there are two of them disposed at twosymmetric spots with respect to the rotating shaft 21 in the presentembodiment.

Operations of latching the cover 2 with respect to the transfer toolmain body 1 in the open position and the closed position by means of theabove-described latching means Y will now be explained in details.

In the open position O as shown in FIG. 3, the cover 2 is in a stablylatched condition with the protrusion 32 a fitting into the otherconcave 22 b provided at the cover 2.

On the other hand, when the cover 2 is rotated by 180 degrees from theopen position O, it assumes the closed position C as shown in FIG. 4. Inthe closed position C, the protrusion 32 a comprising the convex portion32 is in a condition in which it is fitted into the one concave 22 aprovided at the cover 2, the cover 2 is latched at the closed positionC.

In addition thereto, in a condition in which the cover 2 is rotatingbetween the open position O and the closed position C, the tip end ofthe protrusion 32 a is slidably moved while abutting the surface of thecover 2, but thanks to the arrangement that the base end portion on bothsides of the cover 2 opens through elasticity exhibited by the cover 2made of resin and to the friction between the tip end of the protrusion32 a and the case 2, the usability will be favorable for users.

With the above-described configuration, the transfer tool A employingthe latching structure X of the cover 2 according to the presentembodiment is characterized in that the latching means Y that latchesthe cover 2 with respect to the case 3 of the transfer tool main body 1is provided proximate of the rotating shaft 21 around which the cover 2rotates.

With such configuration, by providing the latching means Y proximate ofthe rotating shaft 21 (which the supporting body 1 and the cover 2 atleast contact for attaching both in a rotating manner), it will bepossible to effectively avoid the necessity of providing a particularmeans for maintaining the position of the cover 2 at different spots ofthe cover 2 and the case 3. With such configuration, specifications forthe case 3 and the cover 2 of the supporting body 1 other than that ofthe location of the rotating shaft 21 will not be limited, and theflexibility of design for arranging the cover 2 and the case 3 can besuitably improved.

By comprising the latching means Y by the concave portion 22 and theconvex portion 32 provided proximate of the rotating shaft 21 such thatthe latching means Y is provided at a different spot than the rotatingshaft 21, it is possible to certainly position the cover 2 whilestabilizing operations of the rotating shaft 21.

Moreover, by comprising the concave portion 22 of concaves 22 a, 22 bdisposed by a plurality of numbers concentrically around the rotatingshaft 21 when seen in a plan view, it is possible to determine aplurality of positions of latching the cover 2, that is, the openposition O and the closed position C, by means of a simple structure.

Further, by arranging the case 3 and the cover 2 that comprise thetransfer tool main body 1 of resin, it is possible to effectively usebending, which is a characteristic of resin material, for suitablylatching the cover 2 and also easily unlatching the same from thelatched condition such that the cover 2 may be rotated.

A transfer tool A employing a cover latching structure X1 will now beexplained as a modified example of the present embodiment with referenceto FIGS. 5( a), 5(b), 6(a) and 6(b).

In the present modified example, the transfer tool A is comprised of atransfer tool main body 1 corresponding the supporting body and a cover2, similarly to the above embodiment. Since the concrete structure ofthe cover 2 is substantially the same as that of the above embodiment,the same reference numerals are used and detailed explanations thereofomitted; however, the case 3 includes, around its bearing 31, twoprotrusions 32 a, 32 b that may fit into the concave 22 a as shown inFIG. 5. More particularly, latching means Y1 of the present modifiedexample is comprised of two concaves 22 a, 22 b and two protrusions 32a, 32 b.

With such configuration, the cover 2 can be latched at a plurality ofspots, that is, two spots with respect to the case 3 in the openposition O and the closed position C as shown in the drawings so thatthe position of the cover 2 can be more certainly maintained.

A latching structure X2 for a cover 2A provided at a inclined shaft 21Acorresponding the rotating shaft will now be explained in details withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8 as a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

In the present embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7( a) and 8(a), the latchingmeans Y2 for latching the cover 2A with respect to the case 3 in theopen position O and the closed position C is provided at a portion ofthe inclined shaft 21A that serves as a rotating shaft around which thecase 2A rotates.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 7( b), 7(c), 8(b), 8(c), the latching meansY2 is comprised of the inclined shaft 21A provided at the cover 2A andextending to deflect towards a predetermined direction in a plan view,and an elongated hole 31A provided at the case 3 and accommodatinginclined shaft 21A and latched at a predetermined position at which ainclined direction of the inclined shaft 21A and a longitudinaldirection of the elongated hole 31A coincide, that is, at which thecover 2A is latched with respect to the case 3A in a condition in whichthe cover 2A is in the open position O or in the closed position C.

More particularly, the inclined shaft 21A shall be set to project whileinclined such that a phase shift of 5% to 50% with respect to thediameter of the inclined shaft 21A is present from between a base endrising from the cover 2A towards a tip end thereof, and ashorter-dimensioned size of the elongated hole 31A of a direction thatis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof shall be set to belarger than the diameter of the inclined shaft 21A by 5% to 50% of thediameter of the inclined shaft 21A. That is, when the tip end portion ofthe inclined shaft 21A and the elongated hole 31A are in partial contactwith each other so as to expand the width dimension of the elongatedhole 31A to result in a substantial coincidence of the inclineddirection of the inclined shaft 21A and the longitudinal direction ofthe elongated hole 31A, the inclined shaft 21A and the elongated hole31A will be in partial contact so that suitable latching is achieved inthe open position O and the closed condition C as shown in the drawings.On the other hand, when the user rotates the cover 2A, one of both areelastically deformed such that the shorter-dimensioned size of theelongated hole 31A is expanded or the inclined dimension of the inclinedshaft 21A becomes smaller, whereby the user will sense a suitable amountof resistance.

With such configuration, the cover 2A may be latched with respect to thecase 3A by the structure of the spot of the inclined shaft 21A, and theflexibility of design of other parts of the cover 2A and the case 3A isincreased.

While embodiments of the present invention have been explained so far,particular structures of respective parts are not limited to those ofthe above-described embodiment but may be varied in a variety of wayswithout departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For instance, in the above-described first embodiment, while the concaveportion 22 and the convex portion 32 were set as the protrusion 32 a andconcaves 22 a, 22 b, they are not limited to the protrusion 32 a andconcaves 22 a, 22 b alone. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 9, it isalso possible to employ an latching structure X including latching meansY in which a concave portion 320 and a convex portion 220 are comprisedof two ribs 220 a, 220 b formed on the rotating shaft 21 on the cover 2side in an adjoining manner and two grooves 320 a, 320 b formedsuccessively on the bearing on the case 3 side. Further, in the firstembodiment, while the one concave 22 a was formed as a notch having alaterally-facing U-shaped form provided at the cover 2, it is alsopossible to form a notch of elongated circular shape or of roundcircular shape.

Moreover, the structure may be a combination of the latching meanscomprised of the concave portions and convex portion as employed in thefirst embodiment and the latching means comprised of the inclined shaftand the elongated hole as employed in the second embodiment. In additionthereto, the concave portion, the convex portion, the rotating shaft andthe bearing may be provided on one of the case side and the cover side.More particularly, it is possible to provide the rotating shaft on thecase side and the bearing on the cover side, or to provide the concaveportion on the case side and the convex portion on the cover side.

Concrete structures of respective remaining portions are not limited tothe above embodiments alone but may be varied in a variety of wayswithout departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1. A transfer tool comprising: a transfer tool main body including acase and a transfer head for applying tape; a cover housing a rotatingshaft configured to engage the case and enable the cover to rotate aboutthe rotating shaft such that the transfer head is exposed when the coveris in an open position and the transfer head is covered by the cover ina closed position; and a latching means for latching the cover and thetransfer tool main body, wherein the latching means is located proximateto the rotating shaft and includes a complementary concave and convexportions, one of the concave and convex portions being housed on thetransfer tool main body and the other of the pair of concave and convexportions being housed on the cover, the convex portion being configuredto fit into the concave portion so as to latch the cover to the transfertool main body when the cover is in the open position; wherein thelatching means is configured so that the cover can be latched to thetransfer tool main body when the cover is in either the open position orthe closed position.
 2. The transfer tool of claim 1, wherein thelatching means is comprised of a concave portion that is housed on thecover proximate to the rotating shaft and a convex portion housed on thecase proximate to the rotating shaft.
 3. The transfer tool of claim 1,wherein a plurality of concave portions are disposed proximate to andconcentrically around the rotating shaft.
 4. The transfer tool of claim3, further comprising a plurality of the convex portions, wherein theplurality of convex portions are arranged to respectively fit into theplurality of concave portions.
 5. The transfer tool of claim 1, whereinthe transfer tool main body and the cover are made of resin.
 6. Thetransfer tool of claim 1, wherein the latching means includes aplurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions andwherein the cover is latched to the transfer tool main body in a variedposition based upon which of the plurality of convex portions is fitinto each of the respective plurality of concave portions.
 7. Thetransfer tool of claim 1, wherein the convex portion is a protrusionhoused on the transfer tool main body and wherein the concave portion isa cut-out in the cover.
 8. The transfer tool of claim 7, wherein theconvex and concave portions are fit together by a pinch fit.
 9. Thetransfer tool of claim 1, wherein both the transfer tool head and therotating shaft are internally housed within the cover when the cover isin the closed position.
 10. The transfer tool of claim 1, wherein therotating shaft is comprised of a pair of projections configured andaligned to pinch the cover between the pair of projections andconfigured to permit the cover to rotate about the rotating shaft. 11.The transfer tool of claim 1, further comprising a winding spool and anunwinding spool housed internally within the transfer tool main body,wherein the cover and latching mechanism are configured such that thewinding spool and unwinding spool are internally housed within thetransfer tool main body when the cover is in the open and closedpositions.
 12. A transfer tool comprising: a transfer tool main bodyincluding a case and a transfer head for applying tape; a cover housinga rotating shaft configured to engage the case and enable the cover torotate about the rotating shaft such that the transfer head is exposedwhen the cover is in an open position and the transfer head is coveredby the cover in a closed position; and a latching means for latching thecover and the transfer tool main body, wherein the latching means islocated proximate to the rotating shaft and includes two pairs ofcomplimentary concave and convex portions, one of either the concaveportions or the convex portions being housed on the transfer tool mainbody and the other of the concave portions and the convex portions beinghoused on the cover, the convex portions being configured to fit intothe concave portions so as to latch the cover to the transfer tool mainbody in at least one of the open and closed positions.